The lights shine down onto the field. The announcer booms over the stadium, “Your Marching Rams!” The taps start and the band marches onto the field. Gabriel Schott walks beside the stage with his chin high, full of confidence while the band is ready with their heads down waiting to hear their call. This is the start of Schott’s first season with the Marching Rams.
Schott started his teaching journey in 2014, student teaching right here at Southeast Polk High School. In January 2015, Schott got his first job working at Pella as a lesson instructor. In 2018, he moved with his family to Altoona, Iowa and waited for an opportunity to work at Southeast Polk. He finally received it this year filling the shoes of Jayson Gerth as the new band director. How is Schott feeling about this new position?
“I’ve actually been waiting for something to open up here for years,” Schott said. Having student taught at Southeast Polk, Schott had worked with the band directors previously. “I knew Mrs. Meunier and Mr. Gerth really well, and we stayed in touch throughout the years. Both of them have been good mentors to me,” said Schott. He took the position of band director here with the students in mind as well.
This is a very new experience for Schott because during his job as a Pella band director, he was always “The Percussion Guy.” Now he is working with everybody on the field. Schott was pleasantly surprised at how early on the Marching Rams learned and worked fundamentals. He quickly learned all about the Southeast Polk Marching Rams way.
One of the biggest struggles of the marching season was the early mornings and getting used to the schedule. “It was hard getting used to the early morning but it just goes to show that you can make anything work when you get used to it,” said Schott
Schott is very impressed with the staff team and the student leadership team. “It’s just really neat how the whole staff interacts together and plans out rehearsals, and actually carries out the plans,” said Schott.
The Marching Rams are led by a large staff this year, with four people dedicated to percussion, two field techs, a student teacher, and three directors. The band also relies on a student leadership team with squad leaders and directors’ assistants, which is a newer concept for Schott. Pella was never as official as the band’s system at SEP.
“Student leaders handle so many more details which takes a lot off the directors plates and it also allows the squad leaders to serve as role models for the younger students too,” said Schott.
As Schott works his way into Gerth’s previous position as a high school band director, he takes on more than just the marching band. Jazz One, the top jazz band at SEP, is also now his responsibility. “It’s kind of intimidating. I mean there has been such a strong jazz program here at Southeast Polk for so long, so stepping into Mr. Gerth’s shoes has been intimidating,” said Schott. Most of the students in Jazz One have been used to Gerth working with them.
“The Jazz One kids, I always worried that they were gonna have a hard time accepting someone new because they were so used to Mr. Gerth for so long and I’ve been really impressed with how willing they are to jump in and try some new things,” said Schott.
Along with working with the Jazz One students, he is working hard to keep high expectations for students. Allowing and helping the band to grow is one of Schott’s priorities. “Students are capable of more than they sometimes think they can,” said Schott, “I see my role as to keep and hold high expectations for students but then to offer the supports to help them reach those goals.”
Since Gerth is still in the department, he has been able to be a helpful mentor to Schott. “Mr. Gerth has been such a good support. He’s really set things up well for me to move into this job to be able to know what I’m doing; He acts as a sounding board and is able to offer support and advice, and I am really appreciative of that,” said Schott.
Schott said that everybody in the community has been so accepting of him joining the band’s staff. Recognizing all of the people making the bands possible is at the top of his thanks list. He recognizes the students, volunteers, custodial crew, and more for being supportive and making this possible.
